Chester County FOP Lodge 11’s annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service typically does double-duty: It serves as a prelude to National Police Week and affords both members of law-enforcement and the public an opportunity to pay tribute to Chester County’s fallen heroes.

This year’s memorial service will be held on Wednesday, May 7, at 6:30 p.m. at the FOP Lodge, at 218 N. Church St. in West Chester. Area police departments typically send one or more officers in uniform for the ceremony. It will be followed by a reception with food and beverages in the Squad Room Lounge.

National Police Week, which will run from May 11-17, will include the 33^rd Annual National Peace Officer’s Memorial Day Services held on the west front of the U.S. Capitol on May 15.  At this service, the names of officers who fell in the line of duty in the past year are honored in a roll call, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.